What AlK/Ca/Mg do you use to supplement?

[Reefcowboy]

My main point here is liquid supplements for the above are not usually that concentrated and the best ones are very pricy. In My 80 gal i figure when the sps start growing, the consumption will be up the roof. In My old 20 it already was getting pretty $ to dose.

I bought BA's Alkalin Powder and Calcion Powder becuase i figured it would be cheaper to make my own concentration, but wanted to hear what others are using and maybe find better products that financialy make more sense in the long run.
I hear BRS makes good products but never tried. Wonder if anyone here had experienced anything they wanted to share.
Thanks

 

[Tonyscoots84]

I use bulkreefsupplys 2 part. It doesnt cost me that much and my tank is packed full of sps

 

[piranhapat]

I buy single packs two parts by BRS. Say around $6 dollars a month for my SpS tank. Gal each Alk & Cal part. Will buy the 50 lb stuff for ALk and CAl down the road. Going to do more research such as where and what to buy. Homedepot ect, For now that's not to bad. But before that I was using ESV $20 each gal. Equal $40 a month. Both was getting 3 months out of it. Way to much now. ..

 

[NYreefNoob]

evs hands down, tried most brands, for the little money saved on brs and not knowing for sure it is the correct levels and actually needs more dosed then the esv i stick with it, plus corals seem to respond to it better

 

[edd]

calcium reactor. after initial investment, very cheap to run.

 

[Spsnut]

Arm and Hammer Baking soda either straight from the box, or baked into Soda Ash, desolved and decanted. Calcium Chloride (ice melt) desolved and decanted. BRS bulk Mg or Epsons salts. Regardless what brand you buy these are the chemicals you are paying for.

 

[garys reef]

I use bulkreefsupplys 2 part. It doesnt cost me that much and my tank is packed full of sps

I thought u had a cal reactor

 

[Reefcowboy]

I like the Ca reactor, but dont have the room in my stand. Im looking to get dosing pumps, so it will be the regular dosing. Im in between ESV and BRS. ESV is very accessible to me, vs BRS which i have to order online. My issue is in these liquid forms, there is a big difference in concentration, so i wonder how B-Ionic measures agains BRS's brand. Of course more concentrated, less liquid therefore it will last longer. I used BA's alkalin and one day ran out and didnt have the same brand available. Ran to a store and found Kent's brand and i had to use literally 3x of Kents to get the concentration i would with BA! The bottle lasted me just a few days until a new batch of Alkalin's arrived. I like 2x part dosing because i worry about catastrophes Ca reactors and Kalk can cause if something goes wrong.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

I dont see paying prime $ for the same stuff. Go with brs 2 part and be done with it..

 

[vio]

Arm and Hammer Baking soda either straight from the box, or baked into Soda Ash, desolved and decanted. Calcium Chloride (ice melt) desolved and decanted. BRS bulk Mg or Epsons salts. Regardless what brand you buy these are the chemicals you are paying for.

+1, same here,60% Dosing + Ca. Reactor, PH 8.2, Ca 425,Alk 9 dkh, Mg 1350
Diy Alk. Baking soda ($2)
Diy Ca. Calcium chloride (ice melt) Free (got were i work)
Diy Mg. Epsons salt {Mg. Sulfate) $6 (CVS) + Ice Melting Pellets (Mg. Chloride)

 

[garys reef]

I used brs cal and alk also and had no issues except my salinity would rise i was doseing 170 mill's a day of cal and alk to keep my #'s at 450 cal 9 alk the salinity would rise by doseing that much so I went with a calcium reactor and I am glad I did

 

[Spsnut]

I think there is a good question for Boomer; were you in fact raising sg or is it a by product of extra chloride in the tank. I'm not at all a chemist and something I haven't come across before... Sodium came from the baking soda, Chloride the ice melt? I brainstorm one way to counter affect that would be skimming wetter.

 

[MIKE NY]

calcium reactor..but I also use Baking soda, MagFlake/Tech M and turbo calcium with W/Cs because I either use Reef Crystals or I/O to boost the levels.

 

[magicalmets]

Esv also have trace elements.

 

[Spsnut]

And that is another reason not to use esv! First rule to chemical use is not to add anything you're not testing for; using a quality salt mix with regular water changes is all that should be needed. Daily dosing elements that measure in trace amounts could make for a bad build up.

 

[LowezAkar24]

I use Brightwell Aquatics Calcion, Magnesion, and Alkalinity.

 

[MIKE NY]

First rule to chemical use is not to add anything you're not testing for; using a quality salt mix with regular water changes is all that should be needed. Daily dosing elements that measure in trace amounts could make for a bad build up.

x2..this also holds true for anyone who is just using epsom salt for a mag suppliment

 

[Moneymaks24]

What about kalk and vinegar isn't that the cheapest solution?

 

[jackson6745]

evs hands down, tried most brands, for the little money saved on brs and not knowing for sure it is the correct levels and actually needs more dosed then the esv i stick with it, plus corals seem to respond to it better

+1

It's $80 for 4 gallons of each part from Premium Aquatics. Not too costly.

 

[prattreef]

ESV for me. I have used it exclusively for about 15yrs. It is not the cheapest option, but it is super easy, super consistent, there is a nearly 2 decade track record of widespread successful use and the company has been a tremendous friend to the hobby at large and MR in particular. The notion that somehow there is a risk of excessive trace element accumulation is beyond speculative and not born out by anything other than speculation. IMO/IME there is ZERO risk in using B-Ionic long -term.

All the commonly used 2-Part additives work, and they all do raise salinity over time, so you do need to be careful in this regard.